Suitcase structure



Unite rates ate'nt SUITCASE STRUCTURE Jerome S. Kivett, Kansas City, Mo.,

Plastic Company, Kansas City, Missouri Application October 22, 1956, Serial No. 617,514 4 Claims. (Cl. i90-53) assignor to Regal Mo., a corporation of This invention relates to improvements in receptacles or containers such as carrying cases, merchandise-receiving equipment, luggage, valises, suitcases and the like, and has for its primary object the adaptation of modernday materials in a manner to present a strong, durable,I

lightweight and attractive over-all construction.

The eld of the instant invention has for many years followed a more or less standard and uniform pattern,

including as a basic component thereof, structural fram` ing or boxing, usually of wood, upon which outermost to the utilization of a frame support, by employment ofv plastic or other suitable material, capable of being bent, formed or molded into the desired shape.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a container having a pair of hollow bodies in the usual manner, but each formed in a manner to present rounded corners and edges, thereby eliminating the time consuming, expensive and laborious task that has heretofore been necessary when using framework of wood or the like in order to present such arcuate, and therefore, attractive, configurations.

A further object of this invention is to provide a hollow body for receptacle construction made as aforementioned and having inturned flanges, one of which is utilized to quickly, easily and conveniently mount a cover and the other serving as a part of the joint between the two hollow bodies or sections of the nished article.

Other objects include important details of construction and manner of formation of structure of the kind above set forth, all of which will be made clear as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of structure made pursuant to my present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line III-JI of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the structure on a reduced scale.

As can be readily appreciated from the drawing, the structure forming the subject matter of the instant invention, consists of a pair of substantially identical, relatively shallow hollow bodies which may be conveniently designated as a top section and a bottom section 12. Each may be formed from an initially at, elon ice gated strip of self-sustaining material that may be bent, shaped or molded into the desired configuration.

There are many plastic and other materials presently on the market having such characteristics and it is proposed in producing the two sections 10and 12, to form the initially at strip in the presence of sufhcient heat around a suitable mold and thereupon, join the ends thereof in some satisfactory manner. For purposes of illustration, such ends are shown interconnected by overlapping straps 14 and 16 respectively, bonded or otherwise aiixed to the innermost faces of the sections 10 and 12.

Referring to the section- 10 thus formed, it includes therefore, a continuous band 1-8 that is substantially U- shaped in cross-sectional contour, thereby presenting a continuous polygonal wall 20 having a plurality of sides 22, 24, 26 and 28. Y

The wall 20, has a continuous, inturned, outermost flange 30 and a continuous, inturned,v innermost llange 32 integral therewith, the ange 30 being preferably of an appreciably greater width than the width of the flange 32. Alternately, the band 18 may be initially U-shaped in cross-section and thereupon formed into the continuous, polygonal body as shown. A cover 34 is joined to the ange 32in any'suitable manner not shown, thereby closing one face of the body 10.

' The sides 22,.'24, 26 and 28 are interconnected by arcuate corners 36 and the anges 30 and 32 are connected with the wall 20 byarcuate edges 38 and 40 respectively. Still further, one end 42 of each corner 36 is bevelled and merges arcuately therewith, as well as with the edges 38.

w The bottom 12 is substantially identical with the top 10 in that there is presented a continuous band 18', having a polygonal wall 20' that includes a plurality of sides 22', 24', 26 and 28. Flanges 30 and 32 are integral with the wall 20 and a cover 34' is suitably afxed to the ange 30. Arcuate corners 36 interconnect the sides of the Wall 20' and edges 38 and 40' are arcuately formed for purposes of appearance. Finally, the outermost ends 42 of the corners 36 are bevelled and merge with the edges 40.

The bottom 12 dilers from the top 10 only in the provision of a continuous, lateral extension 44 that overlaps the innermost edge of the ange 32 when the flanges 32 and 32' are in abutting relationship, the extension 44 being integral with the flange 32.

The two sections 10 and 12 may be interconnected if desired for relative swinging movement through the provision of hinge means 46 and be held in a closed position by suitable clasps 48 in the conventional m-anner.

Still further, a handle 50 may be provided preferably on the section 12 between the clasps 48, if desired. In this respect further, it is to be recognized that many other refinements commonly employed in structure of this nature, have not been illustrated since the same form no part of the instant invention. For example, while it is contemplated that the material forming the bodies 10 and 12 be suiciently strong in itself to withstand the uses to which the structure is to be placed, lighter weight material may be employed if desired, and subsequently reinforced within the bodies 10 and 12, particularly adjacent the carrying handle, wherever it may be placed. Additionally, it is desirable and quite conventional to line the innermost faces with attractive material if, for no other purpose than to hide the joints and other unattractive parts therewithin.

From the foregoing, it is now apparent that there has been provided a lightweight, inexpensive structure that incorporates all of the advantages, particularly from the standpoint of durability and attractiveness, of conventional construction.

Ptemed treuil, s

Having thus described the invention what is claimed asnew and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. In suitcase structure, -a top section and a bottom section, each includinga hollow bodygprov-idedV with a continuous polygonal band having a polygonal planar portion defining a central polyggnal openinggacontinuous polygonal wall integral with the outermost peripheral margin '0f saidlplanar portion and extending. laterally therefrom in one direction and a--continuous polygQnal Y 4 tinuous polygonal inturned ilange integral with the peripheral margin of said wall remote from said planar portion, the body thereby being substantially U-shaped in transverse cross-section, said walls each having arcuate corners joining the sides thereof, there being arcuate edges Abetween each planar portion and the sides of its corresponding wall and a polygonal cover secured to each outermost flange respectively, theA inturned flanges of said sections being in abutting relationship when the structure is closed.

4. in suitcase structure, a top section anda bottom section, each including a hollow body provided with a jcontinuousy polygonal band having a polygonal planar inturned dart-ge` ntegralwith, the neriptte-ralY margin Qf; said.

wall remote from said planar portion, the body thereby being substantially U-shaped in transverse cross-section and a polygonal cover securedV to each of said planar portions respectively in overlying,` coyering relationship to corresponding openings, the inturned anges of said sections being in abutting relationship when the structure is closed. A

2. Suitcase structure as setforthlin claim l wherein said band comprises an initially at, elongated strip` of self-sustaining materialA having theV ends thereof joined together.

3. *lnsuitcase structure, a` topy section. and; a bottom section,` each including a. hollow b ody `provided with a. continuous; polygonal band` having av polygonal planar portion; defining a central polygonal opening, a continuous polygonal wallhaving a. plurality of sides, integral with the outermost peripheral margin of said planar portion and xtendingflaterally therefromin one direction and a conportion defining a4 central polygonal opening, a continuous polygonal wall having a plurality of sides, integral with the outermost peripheral margin of said planar portion and extending laterally therefrom in one direction and a continuous polygonal inturned flange integral with the peripheral margin of said wall remote from said planar portion, the body thereby being substantially U-shaped in transverse cross-section, said walls each having arcuate corners joining the sides thereof, there being arcuate edges between each planar portion and the sides of its corresponding wall, each end of each corner being beveled and merging arcuately with said arcuate edges and cornersanda polygonal cover secured to each outermost ilange,f respectively, the inturned flanges of said sections being in abutting relationship when the structure is closed.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,586,446v Jacques May 25, 1926 1,611,494 Strauss Dec. 21, 1926 1,624,070 Qui'gan Apr. l2, 1927 2,510,643 Long lune 6, 1950 

